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Dr Paula R. Pietromonaco, PhD

Dr Paula R. Pietromonaco, PhD

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My research examines interpersonal dynamics in close relationships. Close relationships, including marital relationships, have been consistently linked to health and well-being over the life course, but much needs to be known about precisely how relationships promote or hinder health. A primary goal of my work is to understand the processes through which interactions in marital relationships shape each partner's emotional and physical health. My work examines multiple processes that may contribute to downstream health outcomes, including physiological and behavioral responses as well as subjective perceptions. We typically examine these responses as they arise during couples’ interactions when they are trying to resolve important areas of conflict or disagreement. My work also investigates how individual differences (e.g., in attachment security/insecurity, childhood adversity, depression) modulate each partner’s responses during couple interactions, and how situational variables (e.g., differences in power or culture) influence couples’ communication patterns, behavior, and relationship quality over time.

Primary Interests:

  • Close Relationships
  • Emotion, Mood, Affect
  • Gender Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Interpersonal Processes
  • Personality, Individual Differences
  • Social Cognition

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Courses Taught:

  • Close Relationships (Graduate)
  • Close Relationships (Undergraduate)
  • Honors Social Psychology (Undergraduate)
  • Personality (Graduate)
  • Research Methods (Graduate)
  • Social Psychology (Graduate)
  • Social Psychology (Undergraduate)

Dr Paula R. Pietromonaco, PhD
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Tobin Hall, 135 Hicks Way
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9271
United States of America

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